Architecture and methods for coexistence of wireless radios having differing protocols

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for the coexistence of wireless radios having differing protocols are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments systems and methods for synchronizing clocks between two radios, and using a signal to notify one of the radios to refrain from transmitting for a timeperiod are described.

1. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a first transceiver configured to transmit a WiMAX frame; and 
 a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive within slots of a Bluetooth interval comprising six consecutive Bluetooth slots, and configured to refrain from transmitting and receiving from within slots that are not within a Bluetooth interval, 
 wherein the first transceiver is operable to transmit a plurality of signals from a coexist controller associated with the first transceiver to the a second transceiver, one of the signals allowing the second transceiver to synchronize the Bluetooth interval with an offset with respect to a WiMAX frame, and one of the signals notifying the second transceiver of a timeperiod to refrain from transmitting a Bluetooth transmission, 
 wherein the second transceiver is operable to delay the transmitting of the Bluetooth transmission until a retransmission window portion of the Bluetooth interval, the transmitting occurring after the timeperiod to refrain from transmitting the Bluetooth transmission; 
 wherein the second transceiver is synchronized with the offset such that a start of at least one Bluetooth interval is one Bluetooth slot offset from a start of at least one WiMAX frame for a potential TX/RX conflict, 
 the potential TX/RX conflict being when a WiMAX transmission would potentially interfere with a Bluetooth reception. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the signals from the coexist controller are received over a wired connection, and
 wherein the second transceiver is further synchronized with the offset such that the start of at least one Bluetooth interval is a zero Bluetooth slot offset for a potential TX/TX conflict, the potential TX/TX conflict being when a WiMAX transmission would potentially interfere with a Bluetooth transmission. 
 
     
     
       3. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the second transceiver receives at least one of the signals from the coexist controller when the first transceiver is receiving. 
     
     
       4. The wireless communication device of  claim 3 , wherein the signals allow the second transceiver to arrange transmissions to not temporally overlap with receptions by the first transceiver. 
     
     
       5. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the second transceiver receives at least one of the signals from the coexist controller while the first transceiver is transmitting. 
     
     
       6. The wireless communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the signals allow the second transceiver to arrange transmissions to not temporally overlap with transmissions by the first transceiver. 
     
     
       7. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third transceiver; and
 an OR gate having inputs connected to the third transceiver and the coexist controller and having an output connected to the second transceiver, the OR gate to receive and send signals from the third transceiver and the coexist controller to the second transceiver. 
 
     
     
       8. The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third transceiver; and
 a proxy connected to the first transceiver, the second transceiver and the third transceiver, the proxy including the coexist controller. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , one of the signals of the plurality of signals notifying the second transceiver to poll a Bluetooth transmitting device and cause a retransmission from the Bluetooth transmitting device to the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is operable to delay the poll and receiving of the retransmission from the Bluetooth transmitting device until the retransmission window portion of the Bluetooth interval, the receiving occurring after a timeperiod allocated for transmission of the WiMAX frame. 
     
     
       10. A method for reducing interference comprising:
 receiving a synchronization signal from a first radio at a second radio, wherein the first radio is configured to transmit and receive WiMAX frames and the second radio is configured to transmit and receive within slots of a Bluetooth interval comprising six consecutive Bluetooth slots, and configured to refrain from transmitting and receiving from within slots that are not within a Bluetooth interval; 
 synchronizing a Bluetooth interval from the second radio with the synchronization signal; 
 wherein the synchronization signal is configured to cause the Bluetooth interval to be synchronized with respect to an offset from a WiMAX frame, such that a start of at least one Bluetooth interval transmitted by the second radio is one Bluetooth slot offset from a start of at least one WiMAX frame transmitted by the first radio for a potential TX/RX conflict; 
 receiving an active signal from the first radio at the second radio, the active signal indicating a timeperiod to refrain from transmission; 
 refraining from transmitting from the second radio during the timeperiod, the timeperiod including times when the first radio is receiving; and 
 transmitting from the second radio during a retransmission window portion of the Bluetooth interval, the transmitting occurring after the timeperiod, 
 wherein the potential TX/RX conflict is when a WiMAX transmission would potentially interfere with a Bluetooth reception. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second radio is a Bluetooth radio. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using a Bluetooth EV3 link; and
 following standard EV3 retransmission policies. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein refraining from transmitting is treated as a failed transmission. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the synchronization signal is a periodic signal. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second radio receives the active signal from the first radio when the first radio is receiving. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second radio receives the active signal from the first radio when the first radio is transmitting. 
     
     
       17. A radio comprising:
 a transmitter configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth transmission protocol and to transmit and receive within slots of a Bluetooth interval comprising six consecutive Bluetooth slots, and configured to refrain from transmitting and receiving from within slots that are not within a Bluetooth interval; 
 a clock connected to the transmitter to regulate transmission timing; 
 a synchronization link input to receive signals from a source to synchronize the clock, wherein Bluetooth intervals are synchronized with an offset with respect to WiMAX frames of the source, such that a start of at least one Bluetooth interval is one Bluetooth offset from a start of at least one WiMAX frame for a potential TX/RX conflict, the potential TX/RX conflict being when a WiMAX transmission would potentially interfere with a Bluetooth reception; and 
 an active link input to receive signals from a source to alert the transmitter to refrain from transmitting until a retransmission window portion of a Bluetooth interval, the transmitting not overlapping with a transmission of a WiMAX frame of the source. 
 
     
     
       18. The radio of  claim 17 , wherein the source is an external radio, the external radio using a second transmission protocol. pg, 19   
     
     
       19. The radio of  claim 18 , wherein the first transmission protocol is used on a broadband wireless network, and the second transmission protocol is used on a wireless personal area network.